1. Fungi Workshop
Linh Anh Cat
Summer 2015

2. What is the largest organism in the world?
Start off with a simple engagement question to the audience:
What is the largest organism in the world?

3. Blue whale
Redwood
Honey fungus

4. Answer: honey fungus
Size: 2.4 mi across, 3.7 square mi in area Lives: Blue Mountains, Oregon Age: around years old Job: Parasite of trees
Genetically identical ells can communicate for a common purpose (they can coordinate) across the colony

5. What exactly are fungi?

6. Hairy mycena
This is what we usually think about

7. Sometimes they are shaped like this!
Chorioactis

8. Sometimes they glow in the dark!!

9. Fun World of Fungi
Mushrooms are only what we can see. Network of mycelia in the soil!
We have chitin in our fingernails, insects are made out of this

10. Are they more closely related to plants or animals?

11. Answer: animals
Fungi are made out of chitin. (So are insects (e.g. ladybugs) and crustaceans (e.g. lobsters). Fungi are much more closely related to animals than plants!

12. Types of Fungi Decomposers Yeasts Mutualistic fungi
Parasites and pathogens

13. Decomposers
Break down dead plants and animals, Recycle nutrients, Play an important role in most ecosystems. What would happen if we didn’t have decomposer fungi?

15. Yeasts
Single celled, Very good at living in extreme environments. What do humans use yeast for?

16. Make bread rise, Ferment wine, beer, soy sauce, Produce antibiotics, Make fake and real cheese, Biological pest control for weeds, Make faded jeans.

17. Mutualistic Fungi

18. Mutualistic Fungi
Form a symbiotic, beneficial relationship with plants. They form an extended root network and help plants get more water and nutrients and protect them from toxins and disease.

21. Parasites and Pathogens
Fungi can infect plants, animals, and other fungi. Human fungal infections are hard to treat because fungi are similar to animal cells. Examples: rot that infects agricultural crops, athlete’s foot, valley fever

22. Valley Fever
Found in California’s central valley and deserts of Arizona. Infection caused in humans by inhaling fungal spores.
Dogs and other mammals
It is often confused with other diseases because of the flu-like sympotoms

23. Fun World of Fungi
Wrap up summary of fungi
Teeth fungi
Blood fungi

24. Workshop Activities
Worksheets on respiration in yeast Activate your own yeast!